RECAP: Sea Dogs Lose 3-1

FINAL: Saint John 1, Baie-Comeau 3

BAIE-COMEAU – An ineffective power play proved costly for the Saint John Sea Dogs on Friday night, losing game one of their first round series against the Baie-Comeau Drakkar by score of 3-1 at the Henry Leonard Centre.

Saint John scored just one goal on eight man advantage opportunities in the game. They had plenty of offensive zone time but struggled to create many quality scoring chances. Their one goal, which came from Luke Green, came from a ways out and with some traffic in front.

This is expected to be a penalty filled series and game one lived up to the hype. The Sea Dogs and Drakkar each had eight power plays and while Baie-Comeau failed to score on any of their man advantage chances, they were opportunistic at even strength.

Jasmin Boutet had two goals for Baie-Comeau while Nicolas Meloche added a single. Philippe Cadorette made 26 saves in the win.

Sebastien Auger made 24 stops in the loss.

After a scoreless opening period, Green opened the scoring at 2:49 of the second while the Sea Dogs were enjoying a power play. Green accepted a pass and fired a low shot from inside the line and past Cadorette to make it 1-0 Saint John.

Mitchell Dempsey was called for charging at 3:03, giving Baie-Comeau a chance to quickly tie things. Luca Ciampini walked in all alone and tried to go five-hole on Auger but was stopped. Then, while on a penalty kill, Jeremy Gregoire fired a shot off the post.

Baie-Comeau tied things up at 1-1 at 12:20 just after a power play expired. A pass through the top of the crease found Boutet and he slid the puck under a sprawled out Auger.

With 2:06 to play in the second period and after a scramble above the crease, Meloche found the puck and put it in to give Baie-Comeau a 2-1 lead after two.

In the third, Saint John had three power plays but failed to convert on any of them. Their best chance came late in the frame when Jakub Zboril fired a long shot off the post.

At 19:05, a point shot bounced off the back boards and Boutet was in perfect position to put the puck past Auger and make it a 3-1 final.

TURNING POINT/BIG MOMENT

Saint John’s inability to score on any of their third period power plays proved costly.

TWEET OF THE GAME

War like atmosphere in here .....proud of our young @SJSeaDogs
— Wayne Long (@WayneLongSJ) March 27, 2015

NOTES

• The Sea Dogs were without forwards Justice Dundas (lower body), Adam Marsh (lower body), Matt Green (healthy) and Ryan Kenny (healthy) along with defenseman Bailey Webster (upper body).
• Playoff like atmosphere - probably because it was the playoffs - in the Baie-Comeau. Even the anthem singer was revving up the crowd.
• The game was nasty at times but nothing overly crazy. There have been worse games between these two.
• Nicolas Meloche played in his first game since late January.
• If you dig +/- numbers, Thomas Chabot was a -3.
• Along with scoring two goals, Jasmin Boutet took 31 faceoffs and won 20 of them.
• What a wild night in the QMJHL. Awesome stuff.

NEXT GAME
Game two of the best-of-seven series is tomorrow at 5 p.m. in Baie-Comeau.